Florence (Barry) Spinello

Florence Spinello (nee Barry), 88, passed away on Wednesday, August 14, 2024, in Ocean University Medical Center, Brick, NJ. Born to John and Florence (nee Evans) Barry in Jersey City, NJ, she was a proud daughter of Jersey City and cherished her Irish American heritage. Florence was the calm in every storm, and her family and friends will always remember her love, warmth, and words of wisdom.

Relatives and friends are invited to visit at the Thiele-Reid Family Funeral Home, 585 Belgrove Drive, Kearny, NJ on Monday, August 19 from 2 to 4 & 7 to 9 p.m.  On Tuesday morning, August 20 at 10:00 a.m., the service will begin in the funeral home and then will proceed to Queen of Peace R.C. Church in North Arlington, NJ where an 11:00 a.m. Funeral Mass will be celebrated. Interment will follow at Holy Cross Cemetery, North Arlington, NJ.

In 1959, she married her beloved Ernest Spinello, and moved to his hometown of Kearny, NJ where together they raised their three children. Florence was an active leader in Kearny’s civic life for 35 years, including as a volunteer cheering supervisor for the Kearny Recreation Commission, before she and her husband moved to Brick, NJ in 1995. She was an active member of the Seaside Italian American Club in Seaside Heights, NJ, for which she chaired the Scholarship Committee for 15 years.

After attending high school at the Academy of St. Elizabeth in Convent Station, NJ, where she excelled in field hockey and basketball, Florence earned her Bachelor’s Degree from Montclair State College and then earned a Master’s Degree from Kean College in Spanish. She honed her bilingual Spanish skills throughout her life, including during a treasured mission trip to Mexico City in 1957. Florence played a vital role in her students’ lives as a teacher of English as a Second Language for many years, and then became Director of Human Resources for Independent Child Study Teams, Inc. and Innovative Educational Programs, Inc. for 23 years before retiring in 2000.

Florence had a zest for life and a great sense of humor. In addition to her devotion to her family and her success as a businesswoman, she enjoyed trips to Disney World with her children and grandchildren, loved to fish, and was an avid football fan who fervently cheered for both the Giants and the Miami Dolphins. She was thrilled to be present in Canton, Ohio for Dan Marino’s induction into the NFL Hall of Fame.

Florence is survived by two children, Sean Spinello and Erin Spinello-Socolow; daughters-in-law, Camille and Lia; sons-in-law, Robert and David; brothers, Robert and William; sister, Patricia Barry Romano; five grandchildren, Jacquelyn, Josie, Stephen, Clare, and Amelia; sister-in law Ermaline Spinello DeGonge; and many nieces and nephews. She also leaves her beloved Schnoodle, Honey, the last of her many cherished canine companions.

She was predeceased by her husband, Ernest A. Spinello; her son, Ernest A. Spinello, Jr.; her brother, Jack Barry; and her sister, Margaret Barry.

Flowers may be sent to Thiele-Ried Funeral Home. Alternatively, donations to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital would be welcomed.

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